The United Soybean Board presented the Tom Oswald Legacy Award to Ed Anderson at the 2024 Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas. Anderson was recognized for his work in advancing soybean research and bringing soybean scientists together to work collaboratively on topics important to farmers. His efforts to create a more resilient and nutritious soybean have positively impacted research advancements across academia, industry, and commodity groups — all while keeping farmers’ best interests in mind.
“In my career, conducting and promoting research to advance soybean yields; protect soybeans from diseases, insects, weeds, and abiotic stressors; improve sustainable soybean production; and enhance soybean components for human and animal nutrition has been rewarding,” said Ed Anderson, PhD, executive director of the North Central Soybean Research Program and former senior director of research at Iowa Soybean Association. “This award means the world to me because Tom Oswald and I were more than just colleagues. Tom was my friend. Tom was intelligent, insightful and provocative. Tom challenged us to think bigger and bolder to further the productivity and sustainability of our U.S. soybean crop. Most importantly, Tom made me and everyone around him ‘better-er,’ and I miss him.”
Anderson has dedicated his efforts to promoting soybean research. For the past decade, he has served on the Iowa Soybean Association and North Central Soybean Research Program (NCSRP) in addition to being a research consultant for the Kansas Soybean Commission, where he provides leadership to several state farmer boards in prioritizing soybean checkoff-funded research projects at more than 13 major land-grant universities. He leads multidisciplinary programs to enhance farmers’ efforts through soybean genetic and agronomic production and yield improvement, yield protection, improved quality, and sustainability. He received his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, received his PhD from the University of Missouri-Columbia and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Florida.
“Ed is a highly respected leader whose dedication toward the progress of soybean research earned him widespread respect among plant scientists,” said Steve Reinhard, USB chair and Ohio farmer who worked directly with Anderson on the NCSRP. “He represents the ideals of Tom’s legacy, and we appreciate his unrelenting efforts to create a better soybean that ultimately drives value back to the farm.”